Nigerian Government Pushes to Cut Methane Emissions From Waste

The Federal Government of Nigeria is implementing new policies aimed at reducing methane emissions from dumpsites and promoting sustainable waste management practices across the country. The initiative was highlighted by the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, during a stakeholder engagement workshop held on Friday in Abuja, according to the Msmeafricaonline report. The workshop focused on the Multi-Solving Action for Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN) Project and was organised by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Climate Change Matters.

Federal Government Advances Methane Reduction and Waste Management Policies

During the gathering, the environment minister urged citizens to take greater responsibility for their generated waste. He specifically cautioned against practices that block drainage systems and worsen flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. Additionally, the ministry is actively promoting its Waste-to-Wealth mandate, encouraging the public to adopt responsible management methods that convert discarded materials into useful economic resources, as detailed by Peoples Gazette Nigeria.

Role of the National Council on Climate Change and the MAMRN Project

The MAMRN project is specifically designed to strengthen national efforts to address methane emissions within the waste sector and support the creation of a National Action Plan for Methane Reduction. Representing the Director-General of the NCCC, Mrs. Omotenioye Majekodunmi, the Director of Energy, Transportation and Infrastructure, Mr. Michael Ivenso, noted that the initiative will provide a vital framework for advancing mitigation efforts.

Nigerian Government Pushes to Cut Methane Emissions From Waste — Photo: Peoples Gazette Nigeria

According to officials, the project will build stakeholder capacity, reinforce existing policies, and promote sustainable practices nationwide. Majekodunmi emphasized that because methane is among the most potent greenhouse gases contributing to global warming, its reduction is critical to slowing temperature increases and meeting global climate targets. She explained that open dumping and poor waste management significantly drive up these emissions, making mitigation a core component of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.

Furthermore, addressing waste sector challenges is expected to yield multiple broad benefits beyond climate action. These include cleaner communities, improved public health, resource efficiency, green jobs, and an overall better quality of life. The NCCC has pledged to provide technical guidance and coordination support alongside the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, and other collaborators to ensure workshop outcomes turn into measurable actions.

Community Responsibility and Broad Stakeholder Collaboration

Environmental advocates echoed the call for structural changes in how the country handles garbage. The Executive Director of SRADeV Nigeria, Dr. Leslie Adogame, stressed that solid waste remains a major source of methane and urged individual waste generators to take direct accountability for their refuse.

Waste management has to be properly carried out to reduce methane emissions in the environment, Adogame stated, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

Adogame commended Nigeria for creating a robust policy framework for waste management and reiterated that his organization remains committed to the global target of reducing methane emissions by 30 percent. Government agencies, businesses, and local communities were urged to sustain ongoing efforts to improve waste collection, recycling, resource recovery, and disposal to transform environmental liabilities into valuable economic resources.